RUSSIANS’ NEW MUSICAL PERMUTATIONS
MENLO PARK, CA—With the chamber concert focused on 19th-century St. Petersburg, Russia, you expected Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Instead, the focus was on lesser names having great ideas, especially in innovative instrumental combinations. Glinka, Balakirev and Arensky. Not exactly household names—more likely, a Russian law firm. Their style and textures offered few surprises, but their instruments were innovative. How about Anton Arensky’s string quartet, with the second violin replaced by a second cello, immediately placing the spotlight on low notes? And…